Rockies first baseman Todd Helton takes his turn in front of the team photographer Sunday at spring training in Tucson. Helton, 36, hit .325 last season and has a career batting average of .328 with 325 homers and 1,202 RBIs. He made his major-league debut in 1997.

TUCSON — Don’t think the Rockies have forgotten their cage match with the Giants last September. San Francisco threatened to throw pixie dust in the Rockies’ eyes, ruining their fairy-tale run to the playoffs. In the end, the Rockies vanquished San Francisco and earned the National League wild-card berth.

That stretch left an indelible mark on Rockies manager Jim Tracy and influenced his first ordering of pitchers this spring. Fifth starter Jason Hammel will pitch in the team’s Cactus League opener Thursday, facing the Diamondbacks. Opening-day starter Ubaldo Jimenez will make his first start Friday against the Angels rather than pitch against the Giants that same day.

“That is by design,” Tracy said, not wanting to give San Francisco any unnecessary looks at his ace.

Instead, Jeff Francis will face San Francisco in a start that carries more significance than Jimenez’s three-inning outing. Francis threw Sunday and is eager to get a shot at an opponent. His fastball and changeup were decent while facing hitters Friday, but he was overstriding with his front foot.

“I could feel it happening. I have to continue to get more comfortable with my delivery,” Francis said.

Tracy will accompany the Rockies to Tempe, Ariz., for the game against the Angels, while pitching coach Bob Apodaca will watch Francis against the Giants in Scottsdale. Francis is scheduled to go two innings. He has not pitched in a big-league game since Sept. 12, 2008, after suffering a shoulder injury.

Tracy said Apodaca “needs to get a look at him, see how his mechanics are.”

Street hasn’t heard from feds.

Rockies closer Huston Street said Sunday he has not been contacted by federal investigators regarding his 2007 treatment by Canadian doctor Anthony Galea. While with the Oakland A’s, Street underwent oxygen treatment for an irritated ulnar nerve in his elbow — a procedure that does not violate baseball’s rules.

Galea is facing four charges in Canada related to Actovegin, an unapproved drug used for healing.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes met with investigators last week regarding his contact with Galea. Galea has treated several prominent athletes, including Tiger Woods, who denied ever using performance- enhancing drugs during his recent public apology.

“I don’t think he could get in trouble with the way he treated athletes because he was very transparent,” Street said.

Troy is a former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role ahead of the 2015 season. He left The Post in 2015.

WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals.